Impact of Flow Volume and Demographics on Irrigation Extent in the Colorado River Basin

Voiceover

Presenter(s)(s)

Graeson Lewis

Abstract or Description

The Colorado River Basin (CRB) is facing increasing challenges due to declines in snowmelt, leading to more frequent droughts and irrigation failures. The water rights system exacerbates vulnerabilities, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups like Native American and Hispanic farmers. This study investigates the relationships between irrigation variation, flow volume from the Colorado River, and the proportion of white producers to non-white producers. Using R programming, we examined data on flow volume, irrigation extent, and demographics. Statistical tests were used to assess the relationship between these three variables. The results indicated that non-white producers do have more variability in irrigation extent which highlights racial inequities. This is concerning because variation in irrigation also connects to variation in crop production which directly impacts the economic livelihoods of these producers.

Mentor

Eva Kinnebrew